Searing heat, action at Teenage Rampage

Riley Laing © Smith/SNSW

Teenage Rampage Oz Invitational
Presented by Ocean & Earth

Surfing New South Wales
Maroubra, New South Wales
18 - 20 January 2013

Trials for the Teenage Rampage Oz Invitational kick off

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 18 January, 2013 : - - Sydney -- A scorching summer’s day graced Maroubra for the first day of the trials at the Teenage Rampage OZ Invitational presented by Ocean and Earth. With the mercury hitting the high 30s by 10am, grommets had little option but to cool off by attacking waves in their heats. Early standouts in the under-16s included: Riley Laing, Harley Ross-Webster, Ben Dewhurst, Darcy Crump and Joel Wood.

The under-13 boys showed no sign of fatigue smashing apart the punchy two-foot peaks. Caleb Tancred charged hard in his first trials heat taking the heat win from Keanu Miller, Tye Koolis and Sam Stead. Jay Brown was another standout in his round one heat, linking together multiple turns to steal first place from Finn Hill, Connor Lee and Gabr Ley.

Billie Melinz tore apart her first heat in the under-16 girls and continued to maintain her momentum right up until the final where she met Rubie Reents, Tahlia Burke and Karla Thompson. As the waves began drop with the incoming tide, Billie managed to score several waves to push her past the opposition and take the win. All surfers will be surfing in the main event tomorrow.
Caleb Tancred’s consistent forehand attack proved to be an advantage in the final of the under-13 boys. With fun little righthanders on offer, Caleb managed to link together multiple high-scoring waves to take the win convincingly.

Local surfer Jackson Giles' determination to stick an air-reverse paid off in the final when he came up against Riley Laing, Harley Ross-Webster and Luke Wrice. Jackson spent a solid chunk of the heat in fourth position before he successfully nailed a solid air reverse and a combo of backhand whacks to jump from fourth to first. Riley Laing finished in second, Harley Ross-Webster finished in third and Luke Wrice finished in fourth. All surfers move through to the main event.

The surfers who advance to the main event are as follows:
- 20 and under male – Top eight surfers
- 16 and under boys – Top ten surfers
- 16 and under girls – Top six surfers
- 13 and under boys – Top eight surfers
- 13 and under girls – Main round only

Luke Wrice took out the Carve Of The Day for a solid display of rail turns in his semi final. Luke won a pair of polarised Carve sunglasses for his efforts. On land, pro-surfer and Dominelli spokesman Stuart Kennedy talked competitors through a range of Firewire surfboards. The Dominelli Group provided spectators with the opportunity to browse through a range of the latest Peugeots from Dominelli Prestige at Arncliffe.

The Australian Skin Cancer Clinics were also on hand providing parents, competitors and spectators with vouchers for a free consultation at their Maroubra store. Competition will resume tomorrow, kicking off with the under-20s trials, before rolling into the main event for the under-13 girls, the under-13 boys, the under-16 girls and the under-16 boys. An updated heat draw and schedule will be online at surfingnsw.com.au by 7.00 pm tonight.

Since 2007, more than 2500 kids have participated in the O&E Teenage Rampage around Australia. 2013 will be the first year the former grassroots junior's series will be compressed and fine-tuned into an elite invitational event. Ocean & Earth have been behind the Teenage Rampage Series since it was created. Support Ocean & Earth who have been world leaders in quality surf hardware for over 30 years. Ocean & Earth will have the best leg ropes and grips for prizes throughout the event.

The Teenage Rampage OZ Invitational is presented by Ocean & Earth and supported by Carve Eyewear, Randwick City Council, Dominelli Group, Australian Skin Cancer Clinics, Souths Juniors, Walsh's Village Pharmacy, Southside surfing region and Surfing NSW.

Under-16 Boys trials final
1 – Jackson Giles (Maroubra, NSW)
2 – Riley Laing (North Entrance, NSW)
3 – Harley Ross-Webster (Manly, NSW)
4 – Luke Wrice (Coledale, NSW)

Under-16 Girls trials final
1 – Billie Melinz (Coalcliff, NSW)
2 – Rubie Reents (Narrawallee, NSW)
3 – Tahlia Burke (Picnic Point, NSW)
4 – Karla Thompson (St. Georges Basin, NSW)

Under-13 Boys trials final
1 – Caleb Tancred (Avoca, NSW)
2 – Jay Brown (Lilli Pilli, NSW)
3 – Finn Hill (Avoca, NSW)
4 – Nathan Rohr (Cronulla, NSW)